Do you want a trade-in? Are you tired of bicycles, and wish you could turn equestrian? Maybe this version of William Tell Overture will help you to find your gait. It certainly gave me a good laugh.

When I was about thirteen, I went through a horse-crazy phase. I had found an all-about-horses paperback book, and loved it.

I wished I could have a horse. It sounded wonderful. Grooming a horse sounded like an easy, enjoyable task. Riding horseback sounded easy and fun.

Now I know a lot better. Just acquiring a horse is a very costly proposition. Then there\’s stabling, feed, vet care, grooming, tackle (saddle, etc.) and so on. Add in daily grooming and mucking out the stable. It adds up to a great deal of money and time. I don\’t have money like that; and making time to groom a horse day after day would wear me to a frazzle.

From what I\’ve heard, the horse is surprisingly delicate. You\’ve especially got to watch out for colic, I believe. A bad colic can result in a horse having to be put down.

Riding a horse means keeping your wits about you; no daydreaming! Horses spook easily. Be especially alert to anything approaching from behind.

Having all that in mind certainly gives me second thoughts about having a horse. The bike and I get caught in the rain, I don\’t need to worry about the bike catching a cold, or developing pneumonia. I put too much lube on the chain, the bike won\’t get colic. If it gets a little dirt on it, and I don\’t clean it right away, no big deal.

I think I\’ll skip the trade-in, and let the horse gallop off into the sunset.